Chapter Sixty: Struggle for Imperial Power

  The weekend has ended, wishing everyone a smooth new week.

  Cao Pi walked up to the Crown Prince and stood before him.

  "Prince Wang, you have arrived." The eldest prince looked at Cao Pi, his tone seeming a bit louder.

  "Ah, good, I'm here." Cao Pi looked at the Crown Prince and said word by word: "Royal brother, our father has passed away. As his children, we should do our filial duty. All other matters should be put aside."

  "The words of Wang's brother are extremely correct!" The crown prince nodded and said to Xu Changeng: "Left Prime Minister, immediately proclaim to the world and hold a national funeral."

  "Your Highness, this is absolutely impermissible. A country cannot be without a ruler for even one day." Xú Chánggēng glanced at Cáo Pī and immediately knelt down in front of the Crown Prince with a thud.

  "The Prime Minister is right, the country cannot be without a ruler for a single day!" Cao Pi interrupted the Crown Prince's words and said loudly: "Why not hold the coronation ceremony now?"

  "Second Brother! Didn't you just say......" The eldest prince said in surprise.

  Cao Pi's words caused everyone to be vastly different, especially the left prime minister who was kneeling on the ground and Cao Qingying who was stunned in place. What kind of medicine is Cao Pi selling after all?

  "The Second Prince..." said Huang Cheng, the right prime minister behind Cao Pi.

  Cao Pi raised his hand and stopped Huang Cheng's questioning.

  "In recent years, the king has been diligent in governance, and the national strength of Qinghai has been rising day by day. The people are also living and working in peace and contentment. Throughout the country, there is no one who does not give a thumbs up to the king." Cao Pi slowly walked around the palace, saying this to the crowd.

  "At this time, the king suddenly passed away. The great cause of the kingdom must have someone to inherit, carrying on the king's will, and continue to develop and expand Qinghai State, so that the people can live a better life."

  "Brother Wang, do you think what I said is right?" Cao Pi asked, looking at Da Wangzi with a smile.

  "Yes, what Wang said makes sense."

  "Gentlemen, you tell me, am I right?" Cao Pi slowly said as he looked around at the crowd.

  "What His Highness the Second Prince said is absolutely right."

  "This country indeed needs a great and capable person to govern it."

  The Right Prime Minister and others behind Cao Pi responded in unison. The Left Prime Minister and his entourage, however, remained silent, lost in thought.

  "Haha, Brother Wang, I know you've never been interested in state affairs and don't care about the country's major events. Your ambition lies elsewhere. Why not let me take the throne instead? I'll carry on Father King's legacy and make Qinghai State prosperous and strong. What do you think?"

  "How dare you, Cao Pi! Are you trying to usurp the throne?" The Left Prime Minister jumped up, pointing at Cao Pi with a severe tone and righteous words. Meanwhile, Cao Qingying, Cao Qingzhu and others rushed forward, shielding the Crown Prince behind them, warily staring at Cao Pi.

  Cao Qingyun and others, seeing Cao Pi open the sky window to speak brightly, also rushed up and stood behind Cao Pi. The two sides' horses and men were completely confrontational.

  "Xu Changgeng, you old codger, be careful or a strong wind will knock out your tongue." Huang Heng said coldly.

  "Hmph, even if I lose my tongue, I'll still bite you to death, you treacherous minister!" Xu Changgeng said viciously.

  It wasn't until then that the big prince reacted, his voice trembling as he said: "Younger brother, why are you doing this?"

  "Brother Wang, I believe you also know that I am more suitable for this position. Your ambition is not here, as long as you hand over the throne, I can guarantee that you will live the life you want." Cao Pi smiled at the eldest prince, seemingly having everything under his control.

  "Cao Pi, you have finally revealed your true intentions." Cao Qingying said coldly.

  "Qingying Wang Shu, why must you be so obstinate? The kingdom can only continue to prosper under my rule. You can also continue to be the Qingying County Master."

  "Cao Pi, the eldest son, was the designated heir, but you usurped the throne and do not have the people's support." Xu Changgeng took a step forward and said.

  "Haha, what is the people's heart? As long as the common people are full and warm, that is the people's heart." Cao Pi burst out laughing.

  "You fools." Cao Pi looked at the kings and ministers in front of him, smiling: "You are arguing here with red faces and ears, you want King Wang to ascend to the throne immediately, do you think that as long as Cao Zhi ascends to the throne, everything will be settled? I tell you, even if King Wang ascends to the throne today, I will pull him down. You bunch of stubborn people, obviously there is a more suitable candidate, but you are stuck on what is orthodox, it's really ridiculous." Cao Pi's face became increasingly ferocious.

  "Your Excellency, your daughter is almost eighteen years old now, and she's really beautiful. Your wife still looks elegant too." Cao Pi said with a smile, looking at Xu Changeng.

  "Cao Pi, what are you going to do?" Xu Changgeng's expression changed and he hastily asked.

  "Don't worry, I just invited them to be guests at my place. At this moment, they are drinking tea in my house. Haha!"

  "Cao Pi, you despicable guy, if anything happens to them, you won't end up well..." Xu Changgeng bellowed in a hoarse voice.

  "Shut up!" Cao Pi shouted loudly, causing Xu Changgeng to stop talking immediately, but his eyes, which were spitting fire, remained fixed on Cao Pi.

  "My words are not finished yet, don't be impatient." Cao Pi said with a smile, looking at the rest of the kings, nobles and ministers.

  "Your Honor of the Imperial Secretariat, your elderly parents at home have also been having some trouble with their legs recently, haven't they?"

  "Inspector, you have many children, and it seems like recently you've just had another six jin heavy baby boy?"

  "Qingying Wang Shu, this time you came to Qinghai City, I suppose your wife also accompanied you on the trip?"

  "Master Qingzhu, your son was ambushed not long ago and is still recovering in bed. Don't you want to know the reason? I recall that you also have two daughters, don't you?"

  Cao Pi looked at everyone and said calmly.

  These words left everyone stunned and speechless, each one standing frozen in place, as if frightened out of their wits.

  "Cao Pi, if you have any real ability, come at us! What's the point of bullying our wives and children?" Cao Qingyun shouted in anger.

  "What's skill? What is called skill? Winning or losing is just a matter of skill. I guarantee, as long as you are willing to support me, I will never harm your family."

  "Cao Pi, even if I sacrifice my life, I will never let your conspiracy succeed." Xu Changeng shouted with a broken heart: "Everyone, this Cao Pi is a wolf-hearted and treacherous person. Today he can do such a rebellious thing as usurping the throne, tomorrow he can abandon you like a used bridge. As the saying goes, 'when the bird dies, the bow is hidden; when the rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked.' You are all digging your own graves by following Cao Pi."

  "Cao Pi, the crown prince, holds military power in his hands, with 100,000 heavenly soldiers at his command. The central guard is just outside the palace, and with a single order from the crown prince, you will all die without a place to bury your bodies." Cao Qingyin said.

  "It seems that you are ready to resist to the end?" Cao Pi's mouth twitched, and he laughed: "Haha, good, good, since you are stubborn and unrepentant, then don't blame me."

  "King's brother, why do you want to do this? The king has always treated you well. Why do you want to usurp the throne? Is the throne really that important? Does it make you disregard the bond between brothers?" The eldest prince stood behind Cao Qingyun, still looking at Cao Pi with an incredulous expression, as if he still couldn't believe that Cao Pi would commit such a treacherous act.

  "Listen, listen!" Cao Pi laughed in extreme anger and said: "There are actually people like this, isn't the throne important? How can you be a good ruler?"

  "Your Highness, no need to waste words on him, just give the order to take him down." Xu Changgeng said.

  "But, Left Prime Minister, Wang Shu, your family members are all in his hands." The Crown Prince said worriedly.

  "The great prince, even if this thief really ascends to the throne, he will not let us off."

  "Alas, Wang Zhi, if you stop here, I won't blame you, as long as you're willing to turn back." Cao Zhi said with a kind intention.

  "Heh heh, Cao Zhi, why don't you yield the throne to me? I promise I won't harm their families."

  "Wang Meng!" The crown prince raised his voice and shouted loudly.

  As the Grand Prince's voice fell, outside the palace suddenly a burst of neat footsteps came, and suddenly the grand gate of the palace was wide open. A big man wearing silver armor and a silver helmet led a group of fully armed soldiers rushing in, surrounding everyone present.

  A man in silver armor, with a long sword hanging from his waist, came to the front of Cao Zhi and knelt on one knee, saying: "Wang Meng, commander of the Central Guard, awaits your orders."

  "Qingying Wang Shu..." Cao Zhi looked at Cao Qingying and hesitated.

  "Hmm!" Cao Qingying looked at Cao Zhi and nodded affirmatively.

  "Alas!" Cao Zhi sighed and ordered: "General Wang, the Second Prince wants to usurp power and seize the throne. You take him down."

  Wang Meng stood up and looked at Cao Pi behind him, then looked at Cao Zhi in front of him. Suddenly he gave the order: "Guards, take them down."

  "Yes! Yes! Yes!" The guards received the order, but instead of surrounding Cao Pi, they surrounded Cao Zhi and others in the middle. The long guns in their hands were aimed at Cao Zhi and others in unison. The icy gunheads faintly reflected a silver light, making people's hearts feel cold.

  Wang Meng suddenly turned around, knelt down towards Cao Pi and shouted loudly: "Central Guard Commander Wang Meng, leading five thousand Central Guards, supports the Second Prince as King."

  "Wang Meng, I didn't expect you to betray me too." Xu Changgeng's face turned pale, looking at Wang Meng with a desperate expression.

  "Your Excellency Zuo Xiang, those who know the times are heroes. I'm just doing what I think is right." Wang Meng turned his head and said to Xu Changgeng.

  "Hahaha!" Cao Pi laughed loudly, looking up at the sky and saying: "Cao Zhi, even if you have control of the military, what can you do? The 100,000 heavenly soldiers are all stationed in the south of the city right now. You can't put out a fire with distant water, what can you use to fight me? Xu Changeng, did you think that gathering the central guard troops into the palace would be enough to defeat me? You couldn't even dream of it - Wang Meng is my man! 1,000 guards will go and invite your families to come to my residence as guests. 2,000 guards are stationed outside the palace, and another 2,000 are right in front of us. I'd like to see how you can fight me? Oh, and you also have the palace guard troops, but what's the use of that? A mere 500 guards - not even enough to fill my teeth gaps. Today, none of you will be able to leave the palace."

  "I am the king of this country!"